Jerlene Elechia Williams-James

Jerlene Elechia Williams-James Jerlene Elechia James, fondly known as Geraldine or Gerry, 75, of New Haven, CT passed away peacefully on January 1, 2022. Jerlene was born in Williamston, South Carolina on March 25, 1946. The sixth daughter of the late Lillie Florene Nash and Gordon Williams. She was predeceased by her older sisters, Dorothy Ann Williams and Lillie Sands-Hay, and her younger brother Gordon Timothy Williams. Jerlene’s family would relocate from Williamston, SC to the Fair Haven section of New Haven, CT. Here she would attend Cheever Elementary, Fair Haven Middle and graduate from Wilbur Cross High School. In 1961, Jerlene was introduced to Willard “Pie” James Sr. by a mutual childhood friend, Willie Gulley. Their teenage friendship would eventually blossom into love. Jerlene and Willard wed on December 2, 1967. Jerlene became a member of Evers Memorial AME Zion Church, which would later become Shaw-St. Paul AME Zion Church. During her membership, she would actively serve on the church’s Missionary Society. Jerlene’s love for God, family and community allowed her to open her heart and home to whomever crossed her path. The James’ house became a place of refuge for many of the neighborhood children and adults. She welcomed every person as part of her family. In the early eighties, Jerlene decided to leave her job in manufacturing and open a home-based daycare center. Many of the daycare children and their families became an integral part of her life and remains a part of the James family to this day: The White Family, The Moore Family, The Flemings-Jones Family, The Battle-Sumrell Family and The Clayton Family to name just a few. Jerlene’s legacy of love transcended a biological connection and allowed her to foster a countless number of children, accepting each as her own. Jerlene will always be remembered for her soft-spoken nurturing spirit, her undeniable love to shop, her commitment to her husband and children, her willingness to answer your call in the wee hours of the morning, her strength and faith in the Lord, Our Savior Jesus Christ. On the first night of the New Year, 2022, God saw fit to give Jerlene eternal peace with residency in heaven. To cherish her memory she leaves, her husband Willard, their children Willard Jr., Jacqueline, Latrice, Nicole, Michelle, Cameron, Mikesha, Kenisha, Michael, Tennise, Zoe, Sharric, Jamece, Travis, Justin Luciano and Brandon; daughters in-love: Shawna James and Tanisha Howard; sons in-love: Willie Darden, and Jiquay Madden; grandchildren: Paris, Asia, Willie, Chloe, Jordyn, Leah, Khalil, Maliya, Khalise, Cali-Marie, Greyson, Trent, Dyshant, and Sha’lese. Sisters Marva Bates, Harriett (Franklin) Howard, Gordell (Willie) Gulley, Sheila Cunningham, Delpha (Benjamin) Little, and Linda Williams, as well as a host of other loving family and friends. May Jerlene’s legacy of love always be intertwined with yours by your acts of kindness, patience, humility, and love.

Jerlene Elechia Williams-James

March 25, 1946 - January 1, 2022